Vapor electric apparatus.



s. FERGUSON. VAPOR ELEOTRIO APPARATUS.

APPLICATION P'ILBD MAYAA, 1904., Y f 'Y i Patented4 Sepp. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W THA-5555 /Hxf/s/To/P.-

.TAAHHHMHHHHH s. FERGUSON. 'VAPORELEGTRI'G ABPARATUS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 14, 1964. l 1,072,443, v Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETFSHEBT 2. F

-ilxllllllllllllllle` W Heesespl A A' i l; Sama/ef Paige/S013,

UNITED sTArEsngENT oFruoE.

SAMUEL FERGUSON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent. i

Application le'd May 14, 1904. Serial No. 207,954.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FERGUSON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented Vcertain new and useful Improvements in Vapor Electric` Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to vapor electric devices, such as rectifiers or the like, and is embodied in an organization wherein the rectifiers or similar devices may be operated in multiple With each other.

One of the features of my invention contemplates the use of a number of rectiiiers for supplying a common load and embodies arrangements whereby, as the load` varies, the number of rectiiers in circuit may be increased or diminishedto correspond with the increase or decrease of load. This result I accomplished automatically and thus conveniently provide for the use at any one time of only as many rectiers as may be- Vthus secure a higher efiiciency of operation of the system than would be the case if all the rectifiers of the system were in use all of the time.

" The features of novelty characteristic of the invention I have pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with .the accompanying drawings, in`whieh- Figure 1 represents an embodiment of my invention in which rectifiers are oper ated in multiple with each other and in which the reactance of the controlling device which I employ for eachl rectifier is utilized as the steadying reactance for securing multiple operation of the rectiiiers; and Fig. 2 represents a system similar in many respects to that shown in Fig. 1 but provided with means whereby only so many rectifiers are maintained'in a circuit at any one time as may be necessary to supply the load then on the system. Various types of vapor electric ldeviccs 'may be used in embodiments of my invenof these rectifiers are indicated at 1, 2 and The rectifier proper, in the case of the rectifier 1, includes an exhausted container or enyvelop 4. This container, may be a vertically positioned tube of glass provided with lateral extensions 5 and 6 which are slightly inclined. These extensions contain electrodes 7 and 8 of artificial graphite or other suitable material. In the bottom of the container two pockets are formed. The centrally located and relatively large pocket holds a body of mercury 9 which constitutes` one of the main electrodes cooperating with the graphite electrodes 5 and 6. Beside the mercury electrode 9, in the adjacent pocket is a body of mercury 10 constituting a starting electrode. Suitable leading-in conductors are provided for all of the electrodes whereby current may be conveyed to or from the respective electrodes through the walls of the container or envelop.

The rectifier proper, as'thus described, is mounted upon a support 11 pivoted at some suitable point as indicated at 12. A magnet 13 having a pivoted armature 14 operates, when energized, to oscillate the rectifier 1 by means of a link 15 pivoted at one end to the armature andv at the other end to the support 11. This magnet., when energized in a manner hereinafter to be described, swings the pivoted rectifier to the left until some portion of the same comes up against a spring 16 which normally presses against a fixed; contact 17 and holds the circuit of the magnet closed. As soon as engagement with the spring takes place the circuitof the magnet is opened and the 'rectifier swings back only again to be attracted as soon as the spring 16 again closes the circuit of the magnet 13. The return movement ofthe rectifier may be assisted by a spring if so desired.

The details of the oscillating mechanism for the rectiiers, while of my invention, are not herein set forthl other than in a somewhat diagrammatic manner, since the same furnishes the subject matter of an application Serial No. 165,201, heretofore filed by me. The foregoing description, however, is sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to understand' my present invention.

The rectifiers 2 and 3 are merely duplicates of the rectifier 1 though, of course, if desired they may dier'in size or in minor details. 'No special description, however,

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

place in the flow of current in the rectiiers.`

Without these inductance coils, or some similar alternative arrangement, the current in therectifiers, ceasing to flow whenjthe current in the supply mains passed through zero, would not again start up. The electrodes 5 and 6, which in this case operate as positive electrodes or anodes, are connected by suitable leads 22 and 23 to the mains 24 and 25 extending 'from the inductance coils and 21. In a similar manner the corresponding anodes 26 and 27 of the rectilier 2 are connected by leads 28 and 29 to the same mains. Leads 30 and 31 connect the anodes 32 and 33 of the remaining rectiier 3 to the same mains 24 and 25.

The main mercury electrodes or cathodes 9, 34 and 35 are arranged so that when in normal operation current will How. therefrom through a work circuit 36 to the return conductor 37 extending to the junction 38 between the inductance coils 20 and 21.

In orderl to start the rectifiers eachof them is provided with a controlling device indicated, in the case of the rectifier 1, at 39, and in the case ofthe other two rectiiiers at 40 and 41. These controlling devices are all alike 'so a description of one will sutlice for all. The controlling device 39 consists of a core-42, preferably laminated, having polepieces 43 and 44 between which a partially rotatable armature 45 of magnetic material is positioned. Coils 46 and 47 in series with each other are 'located so as to energize the These coils are connected directly in .circuit with the cathode 9 and have one of nal-of a storage battery 55, the negative terminal of which is likewise connected to the lead 37. This storage battery I use, not only for energizing the oscillating or shaker mag' n'et 13,` but also for producing the starting arc in the rectifier between the starting electrode 10 and the' lmain cathode 9. After these operationshave been performed the battery 53 to the opposite pole to the battery55.

the magnet 13 and causes the oscillation of may be charged by the rectiliers or cut out of circuit as desired.

In order that current from the battery may be used to energize the oscillator magnet 13 the lead 56 is connected to the main 57 from which branches one lead of the magnet 13. and also the leads 58 and 59 of the oscillator magnets of the other two rectiiers. The fixed terminal 17 of the switch ofthe magnet circuit is electrically connected to the switch arm 48 as indicated.

When the controlling vdevice 39 is in the starting position the arm 48 occupies a position in which the contact 49 engages the mercury cup 51. In this position it will be seen that current may flow from the battery 55 through the lead 56 to the main 57, through the magnet 13 to the mercury'cup 51, and then through the starting resistance The magnet 13, being thus energized, oscillates the rectifier 1.r In doing so it causes mercury to slop over the barrier between the electrodes 9 and 10 and thereby causes a momentary electrical connection between the same. On the formation of this electrical connection current may flow from the battery 55,' through the lead 56 to the main 58, thence from electrode 10 to electrode 9,- back throughthe coils 47 and 46 tothe mercury cup 51, and thence through the resistance 53 to the opposite pole of the battery. As soon as. the momentarily existing bridge of mercury between the electrodes 9 and 10 breaks, an arc or flow of `current is produced which energizes the surface of the electrode 9 and causes the latter togive off ionized or conducting vapor. The existence of this vapor is all that is necessary to 1 start the flow of current fromthek mains 24 and 25 to the anodes 5 and 6 from which the current flows unidirectionally through the .rectifier and through the coils of the controlling device 39 to the resistance 53 and back to the junction point 38 between the inducta-nce coils 2O and 21. Thismode of .operation forms no porltion of the present invention and, being well understood in the art, requires no further description. As soon as this flow of current takes place thearmature 45 is rotated under the influence of the coils 46 and 47 so as .to lift the contact 49 out of the mercury cup 51 and to dip the other contact 50 into the mercury cup 52. This, as will be seen, cuts out the rectier to cease. Should current stop flowing through the rectifier. for any cause, the spring 5901' other sui-table means causes -a reverse movement of the lever48 and a corresponding change of the connect-ions 1 from the running position to the starting position.

The other rect-iers 2 and 3 are operated inthe same manner as that described in coni .nection with rectifier 1. When all of the 1 rectifiers are in operation, which result I accomplish practically simultaneously, each rectifier it will be seen furnishes rectified current which traverses the coils of the corresponding controlling device. These devices, containing as they do a large amount of iron, constitute good inductance coils and permit the omission of the inductance coils which it has heretofore been necessary to connect in series with the direct current circuits of multiple connected rectiiers, that they may be Vcaused to operateproperly together. The controlling devices 39, 40, 4l, serve the purpose of enabling the rectiiiers to work together in multiple, starting them up when they are to be used, and controlling their o-peration when in use.

I have described the battery 55 as being used for the purpose of producing the starting arc in the rectifier-s. If desired, however, I may, by throwing the switch 60, derive current for this purpose from the lead 23. It is preferable, however, to use the batteryv since the proper direction of cur rent flow is obtained instantly and the rectifier thus starts with more certainty upon av single shake or oscillation. After the rectifiers have been started they may be .switched to the load by closing switch 61. The battery 55 by a switch not shown, may, ofcourse, be cut out, as indeed may any of the translating devices indicated diagrammatically in position between the leads of the work circuit 36. 'Ihe translating device indicated comprises lights 62 and 63, a vapor lamp 64, and a motor 65.

In the system shown in Fig. l all ot the rectifiers are used simultaneously. I find it desirable in many cases to use only as many rectifiers as may be necessary to supply the load. To this end I provide automatic means for proportioning the number of rectiersvin use to the load supplied. 'An organization for effecting this result is shown in Fig. 2, which is practically the same as the diagram in Fig. l except with the addition of the automatic switches 66 and 67. These switches are in series with each other andwith the lead extending to the work circuit 68. The switch 66 is provided with contacts 69 and 70 which when open cut out the starting circuit 7l and the running circuit 72 of the rectifier 73, corresponding to the rectifier 2 in Fig. 1, and also at the same time cuts out the starting and running cir'- cuits 74 and 75 of the rectifier 76. The switch 67 is also provided with contacts, as 77 and 78, which control the starting and running circuits 7 4 and 75 of the rectifier 76.

The switch 66 is adjusted so that it ,closes its contacts when current supplied to the work circuit is equal to or in excess of that of the capacity of the rectifier 79. When this current is reached the two rectiiers 79 and .73 operate together. vWhen the work I starting arc therein.

circuit current becomes greater than the capacity of these two rectifiers, the switch 67 throws in the rectifier 76, which it does by closing the starting and. running circuits embodiments of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, for which reason Ido not wish to be limitedto the exact details shown and described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isf# l. The combination of an alternating cur-y rent system, a plurality of rectiiers for converting alternating current into direct current, a direct current circuit, a piurality of electromagnet devices in the direct current circuit connected in series and responsive to successively varying values of the direct cui'- rent, for varying the number oi'.rectifiers in circuit and means operative when' said rectifiers are in circuit to startvthe same.

2. The combination of an alternating current system, a plurality of vapor electric i'ectifying devices adapted to rectify current from said system, a load circuit supplied by said rectifiers, electrical means for varying the number of rectifiers in circuit.7 and means operating, when a rectifier is thrown in cir cuit, to produce a starting are therein.

3. The combination of a plurality of vapor electric devices adapted to operate in multiple on an alternating current circuit, automatic means for varying the number of Adevices in circuit,'and means operating when a device is thrown in circuit to produce a 4. In a system of distribution, the combination of alternating current. supply mains, a variable loadvciicuit, a plurality of Vapor electric rectifying devices for converting alternating current from said mains intodirect current and feeding it to said load circuit, and means responsive to direct current flowing to said load circuit for varying the number of rectifiers in circuit.

5. In a system of distribution, `the combination of alternating current supply mains, a variable load circuit, a plurality of. vapor electric rectifying devices for converting alternating current from said mains into direct current and feeding it to said'load circuit, and automatic means responsive to direct current y:ted to said load circuit f'or varying the number ofl rectiers in multiple.

i iso 6. In a'system of distribution, the combi!l nation of alternating current supply mains, a variable load circuit, a plurality of vapor electric rectifying devices for converting alternating current from said mains linto direct current and feeding'it to Asaid load eireuit, automatic starting devices for said rectifiers, and .means responsive to direct current flowing to said l-oad circuit for varying 1c the number of rectifiers in operation.y

7. The combination with a source of al.- ternating current, a plurality of mercury vapor rectiers fed from said source, a common direct current work circuit fed by said from the direct. current electrode of the first named converter.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of May, 1904.

' y I SAMUEL FERGUSON. i Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN ORFORD. 

